The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The story begins with the horrific murder of many individuals, all residents living in a small village somewhere in Sweden. My attention was grabbed immediately and for page after page I was kept wondering, why? who? how? And so on, when you also discover there is also when? In fact there are several whens? As well as some wheres? The tale slowly reveals historical events in China that involve a particular family and the internal feuds and conflicts affecting them.
It took me a while to realise that there was a lot more detailed information to come before I’d get some kind of take on the tale. Mankell is most adept at writing stories that will include other countries and characters that eventually relate to the central plot, intriguing and entertaining the reader throughout the book. Another reason I like his books so much, albeit that it is usually a Kurt Wallander crime thriller that I turn to. But The Man From Bejing was just as much a compelling read. It is full of detail, relevant and interesting historically. It’s a story that asks you to work at the plot sometimes, with rewarding conclusions.
The main investigator this time is a Swedish judge, Birgitta Roslin, whose grandparents are among the murdered victims. Birgitta Roslin is an impressive woman who deserves another book! I wonder if there is another thriller with her at the helm? Highly recommended.


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Depths by Henning Mankell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It took me a few pages to realise that the author is holding the reader inside the very weird and strange head of a mad, maybe even psychopathic killer. It felt uncomfortable and alien to the effect that I was tempted to give up reading ‘Depths’ - even though it is by an author popular with me through the Wallander novels. However, of course I pressed on with it and ended up liking it.
The title refers to the process of measuring the depths of the sea, or soundings, in the waters around the archipelago of Sweden, and in particular seas that are around Stockholm. The main character is a compulsive obsessive, and the depths of his mind were dark and very dangerous. I started reading under the impression that it may be a story about World War 1, which in essence I suppose it is. But not at all; this is a tale about the way a human mind can ‘go wrong’ and how distraction and lust may result in tragedy. There is tension and unease throughout the novel, reflecting Mankell’s amazing skills as a writer. He is precise and accurate with realistic situations and dialogue. It is quite a different kind of ‘crime thriller’ and I can recommend it to fans of the genre as well as to anyone who just enjoys a good read with oodles of – pardon the pun – depth!


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